I held my very first post in 2005. This is where I usually try to stop the enthusiastic responses of “Oooh, you started fasting in 2005!” and I don’t allow you to continue the phrase with the words “What a great fellow you are!”, explaining in time - all subsequent years I was either pregnant or breastfeeding. Actually, this state of affairs remained until 2013 (today I am a mother of three children). So I developed a more or less stable attitude towards one of the five pillars of Islam exactly five years ago. Hopefully forever. Why? Because fasting for me is not just fasting from dawn to dusk. Everything is much more serious. However, like any Muslim.
What is Muslim fasting? Why is so much attention focused on him?
After all, fasting is only part of the rules that are important to observe during the holy month of Ramadan. And this is what you really need to pay attention to. It is not the fast itself that is sacred, but the month of Ramadan - the month in which the Koran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.
Every devout Muslim is waiting for this special month. Because this is a chance to atone for your sins, cleanse yourself and become even closer to Allah. During the month of Ramadan you need to do good deeds. As much as possible. It is believed that they all increase in size by 700 times. If possible, you need to distance yourself from everything bad: don’t swear, don’t swear, don’t quarrel with people, don’t sin, don’t do evil. After all, not only good deeds increase.
Of course, all this requires some effort from a person. You can’t swear like a shoemaker for a whole year and stop doing it at once. It won’t work like this - gossip all year round and get rid of this habit in a day.
It is even more difficult to habitually eat five times a day and start fasting on the first day of the holy month. You need to approach fasting wisely, and most importantly, with understanding in your heart. There is no need to fast if a person continues to otherwise lead his usual lifestyle: swearing or doing bad things. Fasting should be a kind of shield from everything bad.
In general, I believe that everyone who is going to fast should ask themselves the question: why am I doing this? And answer it as honestly as possible. You cannot fast in order to lose weight, reduce the size of your stomach, or, even worse, just for company. It’s better to be honest - get ready and finally go to the gym. The same applies to people who do not want to fast and justify their reluctance with a sore stomach, headaches without a cup of tea and other reasons. It’s better to honestly admit that there is simply no desire. No self-confidence. Because all these reasons contradict simple facts. For example, that the human body can survive without water for three days and without food for seven days. If the body’s resources are enough for a week, then it will definitely cope with 20 hours. As for a sick stomach, fasting will only benefit it. Of course, provided that each meal starts correctly. You shouldn’t immediately stuff everything that your eyes see on the table into yourself. It's better to start with 500 ml of water. Water will help awaken the internal organs and prepare the body for food intake. And after 30 minutes you can eat something light. For example, salad. And only then can you move on to everything else.
You know, there are many special centers all over the world in which all treatment is based on fasting. People purposefully go there and pay a lot of money in order to starve. In this way you can cure all diseases, honestly: from gastritis to oncology. And you say that without tea your head hurts...
By the way, I noticed that, among other things, many fasters (especially beginners) have a certain difficulty, which I call “psychological hunger.”
Surely you have noticed that sometimes you are so busy during the day that you don’t have time not only to eat, but even just to take a sip of water. Only at the end of the day do you realize that you are hungry. And when you fast, everything happens exactly the opposite - the consciousness constantly remembers the prohibition, and a person involuntarily thinks about food, even if he doesn’t really want to eat. And by the end of the day, this “psychological hunger” is so strong that a breakdown is quite likely - literally everything that catches your eye goes into your mouth. And this definitely does not have the best (if not detrimental) effect on the body.
I have gone through this more than once, and this year I was determined to correct this situation. For myself, I realized one simple thing: you need to eat for Suhoor in such a way that you don’t go hungry all day and at the same time get enough nutrients so that your body doesn’t suffer. To do this, I can, for example, eat fruits, vegetables and porridge, but I know that even this will fill my stomach and then it will be difficult to sleep.
This year I decided to experiment - I include Herbalife protein shakes in my diet. Last November I was able to visit a health club where, after taking measurements and speaking with an independent nutrition consultant, I received a jar of the shake. Honestly, I didn’t immediately or often use this form of nutrition. However, the couple of times that the Herbalife protein shake replaced my lunch, I felt full until the night, without that terrible feeling of heaviness in my stomach. I've seen recipes somewhere using regular products with the addition of Herbalife protein shake: I think it will serve me well now, in Ramadan. In general, I will experiment and share my experience.
To be continued...
In this blessed month, everyone has the best opportunity to correct their life, start it anew, cleansing their heart and mind from bad thoughts and actions. This month is a great mercy, and only a fool will pass by without at least trying to rid himself of the burden of sins.
Everyone knows that Ramadan is also called the month of fasting, a lot is said about this every year, many books and recommendations have been written for those who still decide to cleanse themselves, but have little knowledge. During this month, a huge number of people rush to worship and return to the path of truth. Someone decides to fast for the first time and stands up for prayer for the first time.
It’s wonderful when there are people nearby who can support, teach, explain and explain, but it’s even more wonderful to know that for this kind of help people on both sides will receive a great reward from our Creator.
How to maintain good hygiene during the month of Ramadan
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Taking this opportunity, I would like, by the will of the Almighty, to at least try to help someone during this blessed period in the life of the Islamic community. In order to make it easier for us to receive useful knowledge during fasting, to make it easier to do good deeds, our body must be healthy, strong, resistant to difficulties, and we, in turn, must strive in every possible way to help our own body cope with these difficulties.
5 steps to Ramadan
Dua before the start of Ramadan
Dua on the night of Laylat-ul-Qadr
5 rewards per post
Top 5 – fruits against thirst in Ramadan
Is it possible to perform Taraweeh if there are missed Farz prayers?
Zakat ul Fitr - Zakat in Ramadan
The times of Suhur and Iftar (the latter corresponds to the time of Maghrib prayer) for cities in Russia and the CIS for the current year 2020 are presented in a special section of our website.
Fasting (uraza, ruza) is one of the pillars of Islam, therefore its observance is mandatory for Muslims.
Usually, by Muslim fasting, the average person understands abstaining from eating and drinking during daylight hours. In fact, this concept is much broader: it includes voluntary refusal not only from eating food, but also from committing any sins committed with the eyes, hands and tongue, as well as from certain actions. While in a state of holding a prayer, the believer must clearly realize that he is doing this for the sake of his Creator, and not have any other intentions.
In Islamic doctrine, depending on the time of observance and significance, there are two types of fasting: obligatory (fard) And desirable (sunnat).
The first is observed en masse by Muslims during the Holy month of Ramadan, which has incomparable benefits for people. In His Scripture, Allah advises us:
In the month of Ramadan, the Qur'an was revealed - true guidance for people, clear evidence of right guidance and discernment. Whoever this month finds among you must fast (2:185)
A huge reward awaits those who adhere to the prayer during the blessed month, and severe punishment will certainly follow for leaving it without a good reason. Proof of this is the following statement by the Grace of the Worlds of Muhammad (s.g.w.): “Whoever observes fasting during Ramadan with faith and hope for the reward of the Almighty will have his previous sins forgiven” (hadith cited by Al-Bukhari and Muslim).
In 2020, Ramadan will last from April 24 (the first day of fasting) to May 23 (see calendar):
However, the Lord did not make observance of the prayer obligatory for all people.
Who doesn't need to post:
1. People who are not Muslims
An important condition for observing the Uraza is that a person professes Islam. For others, fasting is not required. At the same time, this does not mean that for days spent without fasting during the months of Ramadan, every person, regardless of his religion, will not have to answer to the Almighty on the Day of the Great Judgment.
2. For minors
Uraza is considered mandatory for adults. It is necessary to understand that this means coming of age from an Islamic point of view, which does not occur at the age of 18, as is customary in most countries of the world, but during puberty, which occurs differently for each person.
3. Mentally incompetent
Mental capacity is listed among the conditions for obligatory fasting. In other words, a person who is not of sound mind has the right to refrain from observing this pillar of Islam.
4. To everyone who is on the go
It is not necessary for those people who are on the road, that is, travelers, to keep their spirits up. It should be noted that, according to Sharia, travelers are considered to be people who have traveled more than 83 km from home and their journey lasts no more than 15 days.
5. Physically ill people
People who suffer from any disease that requires constant use of medications, or that threatens severe ailments and pain, even threatening their life if they follow the fast, are exempt from its necessity.
6. Pregnant
Women who are carrying a child and fear for the life of their unborn child have the right not to fast during the month of Ramadan.
7. Nursing women
Women who breastfeed their babies may also not fast.
8. Women during menstruation and bleeding caused by childbirth
During the menstrual period and during postpartum bleeding, women, according to Sharia, are in a position of ritual defilement, as a result of which non-compliance with the prayer is allowed and, moreover, necessary. If pregnant and lactating women have the right to fast, then on these days it is better for women to abstain.
9. Unconscious people
Believers who remain unconscious for a long time, for example, in a coma, are, for obvious reasons, also freed from the uraza.
In situations where a person misses one or more days of fasting for the reasons listed above, he must make up for them later, when the reason that gives the right to non-fasting is eliminated, for example, when the traveler returns home or the person comes out of a coma. Believers who are unable to keep up the prayers throughout the year, for example due to illness, must feed one needy person for each missed day. If this is also difficult for a person in material terms, because he himself is one of those in need, then he is completely freed from this obligation.
Recommended post- this is one whose observance is desirable, but is not obligatory for Muslims. For observing such a fast, the believer is entitled to a reward, but for abandoning it there is no sin.
Days when it is advisable to keep your spirits up:
- Day of Arafah- for fasting on this day, the Lord can forgive a person for the sins he has committed over 2 years. The Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) explained: “Fasting on the Day of Arafah serves as atonement for sins committed over the past and future years” (hadith from Ibn Majah and Nasai).
- Day of Ashura- those who fast on the tenth day of the month of Muharram erase all sins for the previous 12 months. The Messenger of Allah (s.w.) admonished his ummah: “Fasting serves as atonement for the sins of the past year” (hadith cited by Muslim). However, Shiite theologians assure that it is undesirable to hold fast on this day, since on this date the grandson of the Final Prophet (s.g.w.), Imam Hussein, who is especially revered by Shiite Muslims, was martyred.
- The first 9 days of the month of Dhul-Hijjah- this can be found mentioned in the hadith: “Fasting in the first days of the month of Dhul-Hijjah is equivalent to one year of fasting” (Ibn Majah).
- Month of Muharram- Eid during this forbidden month is considered Sunnat. After all, the Prophet Muhammad himself once said: “After Ramadan, the best month for fasting is the month of Allah - Muharram” (hadith cited by Muslim).
- Month of Sha'ban- one more month during which it is advisable to fast. In the lunar calendar, it comes before Ramadan. In the hadiths from Bukhari there is a mention that the Final Messenger of the Almighty (s.g.v.) was zealous in observing the fast in the month of Sha'ban, except for some days.
- 6 days of the month of Shawwal- also desirable for fasting. Shawwal follows the Holy month of Ramadan. “If someone completes the fast of Ramadan and adds six days of fasting in the month of Shawwal, he will receive the same reward as if he had fasted the whole year” (hadith from Muslim).
- Cheers every other day, or the fast of the Prophet Dawood (a.s.), who kept the fast every other day and which, as the Mercy of the Worlds Muhammad (s.g.w.) said, “is the most beloved fast for Allah” (in accordance with the hadith from Muslim).
- 3 days in the middle of each month- The Prophet (s.g.w.) instructed: “If you want to fast in the middle of the month, then fast on the 13th, 14th and 15th days” (at-Tirmidhi).
- Every Monday and Thursday- it was on these days that the Messenger of the Almighty (s.g.v.) regularly observed the fast. “The affairs of people are presented to Allah on Monday and Thursday,” he said. “And I want my affairs to be presented while I am fasting” (hadith reported by at-Tirmidhi).
Times of fasting in Islam
It is known that in Islam fasting is observed during daylight hours. The countdown starts from dawn. In the Holy Book of Muslims you can find the following verse:
Eat and drink until you can distinguish a white thread at dawn from a black one, then fast until nightfall (2:187)
The fasting person should stop eating in the morning () before the time comes (usually 30 minutes).
One day, one of the ascetics asked the Prophet Muhammad (s.g.w.) about what time period should be between suhoor and azan for morning prayer, to which he replied: “As much as is necessary to read fifty verses” (hadith from Bukhari and Muslim).
The end of the fasting time () comes at sunset and coincides with the time of onset. In this case, after fasting, the believer should first break his fast and then begin prayer.
At the end of Suhoor the following dua is read (niyat):
نَوَيْتُ أَنْ أَصُومَ صَوْمَ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ مِنَ الْفَجْرِ إِلَى الْمَغْرِبِ خَالِصًا لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى
Transcription:“Nauaitu an-assumma sauma shahri of Ramadan min al-fajri il al-Maghribi khaalisan lilLyahi tya’aala”
Translation:“I intend to fast the month of Ramadan from dawn to dusk sincerely for the sake of Allah.”
Immediately after breaking the fast - at iftar - they say dua:
اللَهُمَّ لَكَ صُمْتُ وَ بِكَ آمَنْتُ وَ عَلَيْكَ تَوَكَلْت وَ عَلَى رِزْقِكَ اَفْطَرْتُ فَاغْفِرْلِى يَا غَفَّارُ مَا قَدَّمْتُ وَ مَأ اَخَّرْتُ
Transcription:“Allahumma lakya sumtu wa bikya amantu wa alaikya tawakkyaltu wa ‘ala rizkykya aftartu fagfirli ya gaffaru ma kaddyamtu wa ma akhhartu”
Translation:“O Allah! For Your sake I kept the fast, I believed in You and I only trust in You, I break my fast with what You sent me. Forgive me, O Forgiver of my sins, past and future!”
Actions that disrupt the mood
1. Intentional receptionm of food and smoking
If a fasting person consciously ate or drank something, or lit a cigarette, then his prayer on that day will not be accepted. But if he ate something not intentionally, for example, out of forgetfulness, then in this case the person should stop eating or drinking as soon as he remembered his fast, and he can continue to keep the fast - such a fast will be considered valid.
2. Intimacy
After sexual intercourse, the fast is broken. Similar consequences apply to kissing lips on lips, as well as ejaculation due to conscious stimulation (masturbation).
3. Instillation of medicine into the nose and ears
Uraza becomes invalid as soon as a person uses special medications used for instillation into the nose and ear canal if they get into the larynx. At the same time, injections made into a vein or muscle, as well as eye drops, do not break the fast.
4. Swallowing liquid while gargling
When fasting, you must be careful when gargling for medicinal purposes or just to moisten it - getting water inside will invalidate your fast. Swimming in a pond and taking a bath in a state of excitement is permissible, but you should be careful about the penetration of liquid through the sinuses, throat and ears.
5. Use of medical inhalers
During fasting, the use of inhalers should be avoided if possible.
6. Intentionally inducing vomiting
If the person holding the fast deliberately caused vomiting, then his fast is considered broken. If the vomiting did not occur by the will of the person, then the fast remains valid.
7. Menstruation
In a situation where a woman experiences pain during daylight hours, she should stop fasting. She will need to make up this day after her period ends.
Benefits of fasting
This pillar of Islam carries many advantages for believers who observe it.
Firstly, the eid is capable of leading a person into the Gardens of Eden, which can be confirmed in the biography of the Prophet (s.g.w.): “Truly, in Paradise there is a gate called “Ar-Rayyan”, through which people will enter on the Day of Judgment fasting people And no one will enter through this gate except them” (hadith from Bukhari and Muslim).
Secondly, fasting will serve as an intercessor for the Muslim on the Day of Judgment: “Fasting and the Quran on the Day of Judgment will intercede for the servant of Allah” (hadith from Ahmad).
Thirdly, uraza entails, as mentioned earlier.
In addition, all requests of a believer who observes fasting will be accepted by the Almighty. Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) said: “A person who fasts never rejects his dua while breaking his fast” (Ibn Majah).
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim calendar. This month is the most important and honorable for Muslims.
According to calculations by the Shamakhi Astrophysical Observatory of ANAS, this year, according to the Gregorian calendar, the month of Ramadan will begin on May 27, 2017.
During the holy month of the Muslim calendar, which is called Ramadan in Arabic, or Ramadan in Turkish, Muslims are required to observe strict fasting - limit themselves in drinking, eating and intimacy.
Following the rules of Ramadan, mature people give up their passions. This is how they cleanse themselves of negativity.
The fast ends with the great holiday of Uraza Bayram.
Features and traditions of Ramadan fasting - what are iftar and suhur?
By fasting, believers test the strength of the human spirit. Compliance with the rules of Ramadan makes a person reflect on his lifestyle and helps determine the main values in life.
During Ramadan, a Muslim must limit himself not only in food, but also in carnal satisfaction of his needs, as well as other addictions - for example, smoking. He must learn to control himself and his emotions.
By observing the simple rules of fasting, every Muslim believer should feel poor and hungry, since the available benefits are often perceived as ordinary.
Swearing is prohibited during Ramadan. There is an opportunity to help the needy, the sick and the poor. Muslims believe that prayers and a month of abstinence will enrich everyone who follows the tenets of Islam.
There are two main requirements of fasting:
- Follow the rules of fasting sincerely from dawn to dusk
- Abstain completely from your passions and needs
Several conditions for what a fasting person should be like:
- Over 18 years old
- Muslim
- Not mentally ill
- Physically healthy
There are also those for whom fasting is contraindicated, and they have the right not to observe it. These are minor children, the elderly and pregnant women, as well as those women who are menstruating or experiencing postpartum cleansing.
The fast of Ramadan has several traditions. The most important:
Suhur
Throughout Ramadan, Muslims eat early in the morning, before dawn. They believe that Allah will greatly reward such an action.
During traditional Suhoor, you should not overeat, but you should eat enough food. Suhoor gives you strength for the whole day. It helps Muslims to stay sane and not be angry, as hunger often causes anger.
If a believer does not perform suhur, then his day of fasting remains valid, but he will not receive any reward.
Iftar
Iftar is an evening meal that is also taken during fasting. You need to start breaking your fast immediately after sunset, that is, after the last prayer of the day (or the fourth, penultimate prayer of that day). After Iftar comes Isha - the night prayer of Muslims (the last of the five obligatory daily prayers).
What not to eat during Ramadan - all the rules and prohibitions
What to eat during Suhoor:
- Doctors recommend eating complex carbohydrates in the morning - cereal dishes, sprouted grain bread, vegetable salad. Complex carbohydrates provide the body with energy, despite the fact that they take a long time to digest.
- Also suitable are dried fruits - dates, nuts - almonds and fruits - bananas.
What not to eat during Suhoor:
- Avoid protein foods. It takes a long time to digest, but it loads the liver, which works without interruption during fasting
- Don't drink coffee
- You should not eat fried, smoked or fatty foods in the morning. They will cause extra stress on the liver and kidneys
- Avoid eating fish during Suhoor. You'll want to drink afterwards
What can you eat during Iftar:
- Meat and vegetable dish
- Cereal dishes
- A small amount of sweetness. You can replace them with dates or fruits
- Drink more water. You can also drink juice, fruit drink, compote, tea, jelly
What not to eat in the evening after adhan:
- Fatty and fried foods. It will harm your health - cause heartburn and put on extra pounds.
- Eliminate fast food products from your diet - various packaged cereals or noodles. You won’t get full of them and literally after an hour or two you’ll want to have another meal. In addition, such products will increase your appetite even more, as they contain salt and other spices.
- You can't eat sausages or frankfurters. It is better to exclude them from your diet during Ramadan fasting. Sausages affect the kidneys and liver, satisfy hunger for only a few hours, and can also develop thirst.
Despite the prohibitions and strict rules, there are benefits from fasting:
Refusal of carnal passions: A person must understand that he is not a slave to his body. Fasting is a serious reason to give up intimacy. Only by abstaining from sin can a person preserve his purity of soul.
Self improvement: By observing fasting, a believer is more attentive to himself. He gives birth to new character traits, such as humility, tolerance, obedience. Feeling poverty and deprivation, he becomes more resilient, gets rid of fear, begins to believe more and more and learns what was previously hidden.
Gratitude: Having gone through refusing food, a Muslim becomes closer to his Creator. He realizes that the innumerable benefits that Allah sends are given to man for a reason. The believer gains a sense of gratitude for the gifts sent.
Opportunity to experience mercy: Fasting reminds people of the poor, and also encourages them to be merciful and help those in need. Having gone through this test, the believer remembers kindness and humanity, as well as the fact that everyone is equal before God.
Economy: Fasting teaches people to be economical, limit themselves and curb their desires.
Strengthens health: The benefit to a person's physical health is manifested in the fact that the digestive system rests. Within a month, the intestines are completely cleansed of waste, toxins and harmful substances.
Violation of the Ramadan fast - actions that interrupt the Muslim fast of Ramadan, and punishments
It is worth noting that the rules of Ramadan fasting apply only during the daytime. Some actions performed during fasting are considered prohibited.
Actions that interrupt Muslim Ramadan include:
- Special or intentional meal
- Unspoken intention to fast
- Masturbation or sexual intercourse
- Smoking
- Spontaneous vomiting
- Administration of rectal or vaginal medications
However, they are lenient towards similar actions. Despite the similarity, they do not break the fast.
These include:
- Unintentional meal
- Administering medications using injections
- Kisses
- Caresses, if they do not lead to ejaculation
- Teeth cleaning
- Blood donation
- Period
- Involuntary vomiting
- Failure to perform prayers
Punishments for breaking the Ramadan fast:
Those who unintentionally break the fast due to illness must perform the missed day of fasting on any other day.
For sexual intercourse committed during daylight hours, the believer is obliged to defend another 60 days of fasting, or to feed 60 needy people.
If skipping a fast is permitted by Sharia, it is necessary to perform repentance.
We present the fasting table for residents of Baku and its suburbs:
The calendar is compiled based on calculations by the Shamakhi Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS).
Question:
Peace to you! I myself am not a Muslim, but I am interested in Islam. And I’m interested in this question: why can’t Muslims not only eat, but also drink during fasting? A person can live without food for a long time, but it is very difficult to live without water - after all, 2/3 of our body consists of water. Is there any explanation for this prohibition in your religion?
Answer:
And peace to you. Thank you for your question.
The topic of fasting is of interest not only to many non-Muslims, but also to those Muslims who have recently converted to Islam and therefore were not previously familiar with the rules of Islamic fasting.
I remember that I myself fasted in Ramadan for the first time, not yet being a Muslim. I had many Muslim students at school, and I wanted to express my solidarity with them in this way.
Then it was difficult for me to believe that next year I myself would become a Muslim and would fast as a Muslim.
Your question, therefore, is very close to my heart - when I just started fasting, I discovered that during the daytime I was not as hungry as I wanted to drink.
In the Quran we find the following verse:
“We sent down water from the sky in measure (i.e. rain) and saturated the earth with it, and, verily, it is in Our power to evaporate it.
With the help of water We have grown for you palm groves and vineyards, where many fruits grow for your needs, which you eat.” (23, 18-19).
Water is just one of the many gifts from the Creator that we take for granted in our lives. Just think how many times we use water in one day (we not only drink water, but we use it to wash our faces, wash our clothes, clean our house, cook food, wash dishes, use it in industry, etc.).
During Ramadan, we are ordered to give up for some time some of the benefits that the Almighty has endowed us with (food, drink and the love of our spouses) - precisely so that we can better feel the importance of these things.
If we are deprived of some things that are important to us for a while, we begin to appreciate them more when we finally regain them. All Muslims will confirm how tasty and valuable the first sip of water is for them at sunset, when they can finally begin fasting. This water seems to us tastier than the most exquisite dishes.
During Ramadan we also thank Allah for the rain - at other times of the year it can irritate us, but at this time, when we are deprived of water, we rejoice at the opportunity to refresh ourselves.
During difficulties, it is easier for us to sympathize with those people who are deprived of such an opportunity - to eat and drink whenever they want. How many people on Earth live in places where ordinary water is rare, and every sip of it is difficult to obtain.
All of the above, however, serves only as an introduction to the story of why Muslims fast. We do not do this to stay in good shape or to experience some unusual spiritual states. We fast because our Lord, Allah Almighty, ordered us to do so. Fasting is one of the so-called. The “five pillars” of Islam, the belief in which is required of all Muslims:
We read in the Koran:
“Whoever of you finds the month of Ramadan, in which the Quran was revealed - a true guide for people, an explanation of the straight path and a distinction [between truth and falsehood] - let him spend it by fasting. And if anyone is sick or on a journey, then let him fast for the same number of days in another month. Allah desires ease for you, not hardship, and desires that you complete the number of days [set for fasting], and that you exalt Allah for having guided you to the true path. Perhaps you will thank Him." (2, 185).
Islam is a very wise and practical religion, it takes into account all possible life situations. If a person lives in his own area, he must fast, but he is exempt from fasting if he is on the road or sick (as can be seen from the above verse).
The injunction to fast also follows from the Koran:
“O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, just as it was prescribed for those who lived before you, so that perhaps you will become God-fearing.” (2, 183).
Muslims fast because it is the command of Allah and they do it to please their Lord.
In fact, fasting is complete abstinence from basic human needs - food, drink and sexual relations, during daylight hours - from dawn to dusk.
Also - and this is very important, fasting is not only physical abstinence, it is also moral abstinence from all bad habits (like smoking) and bad deeds - like quarrels, gossip, slander. At this time, it is important to give up even bad thoughts - envy, hatred, ill will. Abstinence alone will not be beneficial if a person at this time is quarreling with someone or wishes harm to another. Our Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said that such a person will not gain anything from fasting except that at the end of the day he will suffer from hunger and thirst.
So, as I tried to explain to you earlier, we even refuse water during fasting. Sometimes this is easy to do (for example, in the cool season), but if there is summer heat outside, this is a very significant sacrifice. Especially towards the end of the day of fasting, when you begin to feel tired and sleepy. But if a person knows that he is doing this for the pleasure of Allah, it is easier for him to endure hardships.
Moreover, what is such a small sacrifice worth in comparison with the suffering of people in many parts of the Earth - many of whom live in constant hunger and thirst, some have lost their shelter and property - and possibly even their loved ones - as a result of military operations. If we think about all these people, it is much easier for us to sacrifice our comforts by giving up food and water for a short time.
When it is time to break the fast, Muslims gather with their families and friends to break the fast by thanking Allah for His gifts of food and water, which we do not notice during normal times of the year.
So fasting in Ramadan is an extremely useful and important thing when we learn to be grateful to Allah, try to become better people and feel unity with our brothers and sisters in faith.
I hope I was able to answer your question.